Astoundingly, once-respected mainstream journalists and publications still have not realized that whatever problems the Trump administration may have with credibility, theirs are 100 times worse. Their wildly inaccurate predictions during the 2016 election cycle combined with their blatant partisanship means that at least half the country no longer takes them seriously. Donald Trump has rendered them largely irrelevant. With last week’s Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking poll giving him a55 percent approval rating, Trump has legitimate reasons to be confident.

Moreover, the media still have not grasped that, like his role model Andrew Jackson, Trump thrives in adversarial situations. Accustomed to having the upper hand and putting politicians on the defensive, the press is reeling now that Trump has turned the tables and highlighted their own failures to keep the public informed in an objective, nonpartisan way. All the tweets and fights with the press are a form of rhetorical dueling, and he keeps besting them, but not because he’s so articulate. Their own hubris and addiction to controversial headlines makes them accept the challenge and show up to the fight. Every. Single. Time. It doesn’t matter if he makes a minor, offhand remark or an in-your-face statement. They actually make it easy for him.

What’s more, after largely turning a blind eye to scandal during the Obama years (Fast and Furious, IRS, V.A., Benghazi, etc.), the media should not be surprised that many Americans now view their hyperventilating over alleged Russian involvement in the 2016 election with skepticism. With every new “anonymous intelligence officials say….Russia! Russia!” story, people roll their eyes when nothing can be confirmed and no one with inside information is willing to go on the record and provide the American public with concrete evidence that Trump is a traitor to his country.

If Donald Trump colluded with the Russians, then these “anonymous sources” should stop being cowards, step out of the shadows, and divulge to the American people what they know. We don’t need lengthy congressional investigations and hearings. We just need courageous Americans to do the right thing.

Until they do, many of us will simply consider the Trump/Russian connection allegations just more disinformation, innuendo, and gossip leaked by dishonest partisans and establishment politicians like McCain who still cannot come to terms with Hillary Clinton’s loss. If the republic is indeed in grave peril from the 45th president, the American people deserve to hear the truth, not unsubstantiated rumors filtered through the corrupt national media.

A veteran English and History faculty member, Dana Zimbleman has worked in community colleges in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, and Washington. She and her husband Mike enjoy traveling, target shooting, and spoiling their Golden Retriever Mr. Darcy.

Thank you, Dana, you nailed it. I’m a fifty-something female “Bernie bro” and I’ve been watching the corporate media’s war against the American people (liberal and conservative) very closely for over a year. What they did to Sanders and his supporters, how they ignored the Wikileaks, how they purposely focused ALL attention on Republican contender Trump because of the SURETY that he was the one Clinton could beat shows them not only as corrupt but as out-of-touch fools. Meanwhile, all over the country there are bigger stories and countless scandals involving the homeless, healthcare, our national resources under threat by corporate entities, lawlessness and brutality with no intervention (Standing Rock – the biggest story in America this year aside from the election, completely ignored, because . . . money – and money rules both government and media here), poverty, and the military actions that go on and on and on. Oh yes, let’s not forget our crumbling infrastructure and the off-shore tax havens for the wealthiest Americans (including, no doubt, President Trump and probably now President Obama with his recent foundation and 60 million dollar book deal). All designed to do one thing – make the rich richer while continuing to break the back of the middle class. Will Trump be the answer? No. A spoiled real estate tycoon born with a golden spoon in his mouth will never be the answer, but at least we can’t ignore what’s going on anymore.

Thank you, florasforum. I admire the efforts of Sanders’ supporters to try and reform the Democratic Party. I believe that had that happened, honorable people on both sides might have come to some consensus despite our philosophical differences. Still, I know that many of your are continuing to push for reforms, as are many of us in the Republican Party. We must keep up the fight!